Jesus' Parables: Then & Now

The most striking thing about Jesus' teaching methodology was his provocative use of parables. These serve to instruct, edify, encourage, and caution. They also provide a cherished legacy for subsequent generations.
Nevertheless, the subject matter is not as familiar to us today. With this in mind, I have added more contemporary examples, not to replace the originals but further clarify and expand on them.
The material is organized according to literary sources. Consequently, the first chapter deals with those parables common to Mark and Luke. The second turns our attention to those shared by Matthew and Luke, generally attributed to the Q document. Finally, the text explores those unique to Luke's narrative.
Three closely related studies are added. Initially, this explores the character of the Synoptic Gospels. Namely, Matthew, Mark, and Luke. In this regard, I earlier treated this topic at greater length in Celebrating Jesus as Lord, Matthew in the Messianic Tradition, and Two Gospel Motifs. The last of these embraced Luke as the original quest for the historical Jesus, and Mark as tragedy.
Subsequently, the text speculates on why certain material was included, in preference to other features. In this regard, "Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written" (John 21:25).
The discussion then concludes with several select quotations from the eary church fathers. These serve to illustrate the continuing relevance of Jesus' parables for that time, and by implication for ours as well.
All things considered, while a relatively brief text, it touches on a critical topic in an unique manner.